What is The ‘Lizard Brain’
As an entrepreneur or learner you might have come across the term ‘Lizard Brain’, but you might not be 100% sure of what it means or have been bombarded with confusing definitions.
Also known as the Reptilian Brain and a metaphor for the amygdala (a key section of the limbic system), the Lizard Brain is the oldest part of the human brain that’s responsible for decision making, self-preservation behaviour patterns and processing emotions.
As people have the tendency to express themselves visually, it’s evident that visuals will always play a large part in how we as humans process any information that we are given. A concept that’s been apparent since prehistoric times when people communicated through images alone, the need for them and the recognition of their importance in learning has long been a priority.
How Visuals Impact The Lizard Brain
As the Lizard Brain is responsible for all of the above, it’s clear that as soon as visuals are presented to an individual, they will be informed by what they see and react to it in a way that they deem fit. Numerous studies throughout the years have showcased the power of visual aids in learning new subjects or topics.
Discovering that they not only help to increase engagement but help you to store information longer, are easier to process, aid better comprehension and drive motivation, many educators around the world utilize it in their day-to-day teaching.
Another key reason why educators use it, is the fact that researchers have discovered that out of all the information that’s transmitted to the brain every day, 90% of that is visual – reinforcing the requirement of them in education.
The Importance of Quality Visuals in a Learning Experience
Whether you’ve taken on online learning or learning visual design in a classroom, quality visuals are essential in the process. As it’s such a powerful tool that sets the tone, engages individuals and communicates key concepts it needs to be simple to understand and to learn from. From captivating images to interesting infographics and alluring videos, it makes learning far more digestible than content alone.
If you’re presented with a visual resource that’s poor quality, it will only prevent you from learning efficiently and effectively. A frustrating scenario, you could lose inspiration and motivation. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, quality visuals are essential in every teaching scenario.
Final Thoughts
It’s therefore evident that to enhance the learning experience and enable the Lizard Brain to process information effectively, visuals (and in particular high-quality visuals) are a necessity. Without these, students will soon lose motivation and become uninterested in what they are learning.
No one learns from content alone – especially if you’re looking to enter the design industry as you’re more likely to acquire information and learn new concepts through visual aids (e.g taking inspiration from past designers portfolios to help shape your own creative vision).
